Mexican Formula One Grand Prix
The Magdalena Circuit in the heart of Mexico City hosted its first non-Championship Formula One event in 1962, the year of its opening. A further 14 races were held there up until 1970, followed by another run from 1986 to 1992. Finally the track was re-configured and modernised in 2015 for the new new era of Formula One, with a whole new stadium section, that the cars pass through - as seen in the pictures.
In 1980, the tragic death of the second Rodriguez brother, Pedro, led to the circuit being renamed The Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in their honor.. In it's heyday the circuit could be configured in a number of ways, even as an oval for stock car racing. The actual Grand Prix track consisted of a long start/finish straight which lead into an extremely difficult series of bends which exited on to another straight. Drivers were then faced with another awkward complex of 10 bends One after the other that finally ended on part of the oval track, after which they doubled back to the finishing line, about a third of the way down the start/finish straight. The already considerable challenges of the circuit were increased in the early days by rowdy spectators, with severe overcrowding at some of the corners, and too often spectators moved onto the track to gain a better view of the action!. Although this is not allowed in this day and age. |
AUTODROMO HERMANOS RODRIGUEZ
LOCATION: Mexico City, Mexico
CIRCUIT TYPE: Permanent Circuit
CIRCUIT LENGTH: 2.75 Miles
LAP RECORD: 1:16.788 - N.Mansell 1991
|
DISCOVER THE HISTORY OF FORMULA ONE - PIECE BY PIECE